BJP Faces Pushback Over Alliance with Ajit Pawar

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has highlighted internal discontent within the BJP over its alliance with Ajit Pawar's faction. A report in an RSS-affiliated weekly suggests the alliance has harmed BJP's electoral prospects in Maharashtra, with significant disapproval from party members and supporters. The BJP's seat count dropped in recent Lok Sabha polls.

The Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) on Wednesday cited a report from an RSS-linked Marathi weekly to suggest that the BJP is subtly urging Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar-led NCP to exit the ruling 'Mahayuti' alliance in Maharashtra.

The report in 'Vivek' observed that public sentiment turned sharply against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) following its 2023 alliance with the NCP, leading to poor performance in the recent Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra.

NCP (SP) spokesperson Clyde Crasto said that post-Lok Sabha elections, the BJP aims to win the upcoming assembly elections in Maharashtra but realizes the alliance with Ajit Pawar could hurt its prospects.

''The reality is that the people of Maharashtra have largely favored NCP (SP). The BJP is cautiously approaching the issue because it wants to win the elections,'' Crasto stated.

''However, the alliance with Ajit Pawar is detrimental, as seen in the Lok Sabha polls. The article in 'Vivek' is one way they are communicating their desire to distance from Ajit Pawar,'' he added.

Crasto also noted that an earlier article with similar content was published by the RSS-linked weekly.

The NCP spokesperson argued that Maharashtra voters did not accept the BJP's alliance with NCP and Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

''Bringing Ajit Pawar on board has caused issues for the BJP, and resulted in the party losing several Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra. This is the current state of electoral politics in Maharashtra,'' Crasto emphasized.

He insisted the BJP has started to realize that their alliance with Ajit Pawar, who joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government in July 2023, is problematic and will not allow them to win elections.

According to Crasto, the BJP is seeking ways to convey this message.

'Vivek' reported that BJP members and sympathizers express disapproval of the alliance with NCP, reflecting a departure from core party values.

''Almost every person associated with the BJP or Sangh Parivar cited disapproval of the alliance with Ajit Pawar's NCP. Interviews with over 200 industrialists, traders, doctors, professors, and teachers revealed unrest among the party cadre because of the alliance,'' it noted.

The BJP's seat count in Maharashtra dropped dramatically from 23 in 2019 to nine in the recent Lok Sabha polls, while its ally Shiv Sena secured seven seats, and the NCP, led by deputy CM Ajit Pawar, won just one constituency.

In contrast, the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) performed well, winning 30 out of the 48 seats.

The NCP, founded in 1999, suffered a split when Ajit Pawar joined the Shinde-led government with loyal party MLAs.

(With inputs from agencies.)